Step-ladder.



E. E. WHITE.

STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 27. 1915.

1,159,452. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES W ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOORM'H 60.1 WASHINGTON. D. C

E. E, WHITE.

STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.27. 19x5.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTO R N EY COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO-,\VASHINOTON. D. c.

EDWARD EVERETT "WHITE, OF BRIGHTON, IOWA.

STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Application filed. March 27, 1915. Serial No. 17,451.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD E. WHITE, citizen of the United States, residing at Brighton, State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Step-Ladder, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention has reference to step ladders and its object is to provide a step ladder which will set firmly 011 an uneven surface and under conditions which would provide an unstable support for a step ladder of ordinary construction.

In, accordance with the present invention the step ladder is provided with the usual side bars and steps and may also have a shelf adjacent to the top step, which shelf may be folded down out of the way when not in use.

The step ladder of the present invention is provided with a rear prop hinged to what constitutes the upper end of the step or body part of the step ladder, but instead of being hinged so as to move on an axis transverse of the body portion of the ladder, the prop is connected by a universal joint located midway of the width of the ladder, so that the prop may swing in any direction and may be turned upon its longitudinal axis. The prop is connected to the body portion of the step ladder by a spacing brace permitting the prop to be swung toward and from the body of the ladder, but

limiting its movement away therefrom. Fast to the body of the ladder near the top step so as to swing toward and from the 'rear portion of the body of the ladder is a holding member arranged to operate in c011- junction with pins or projections on the prop, whereby the latter may be'made to maintain various positions of adjustment, and the ladder is thereby firmly braced when adjusted to an uneven support.

The structure is such that the parts may be readily folded into small compass or ex panded into operative position.

7 The invention will be best understood from a consideration ofthe following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the further understanding that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but maybe changed and-unodificd so long-as *such in the county of Washington and changes and modifications mark no material depa ture from the salient features of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the ladder in the extended position and illustrating its adaptability to an uneven supporting surface. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the step ladder in the extended condition. Fig. 3 is a section on the line of Fig. Fig. L is a section similar to Fig. 3 but drawn on a larger scale and restricted to the upper portion of the ladder, and also showing the prop folded against the body portion of the ladder. F 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a ladder having a body portion 1 composed of side rails 2 and a series of steps 3 terminating in a top step t which, as is customary, is made somewhat more extended than the other steps. The ladder is also provided with a rear prop 5 consisting of side rails 6 diverging from one end toward the other and at the wider end the divergence may be nearly or quite as great as the divergence of the lower ends of the side rails, it being usual to make the side rails 2 slightly divergent after the customary practice in the manufacture of step ladders. The prop 5 has the approached ends of the rails 6 united by a crown connecting member 7 in the form of a suitable casting or stamping usually of metal, and preferably channeled to seat the rails 6. which may be made of wood, after the usual custom, or which may be made of any other suitable material. Near the crown 7 the side rails 6 are united by a connecting bar 8 and at other points the side rails 6 of the prop are held together by connecting rods 9, 10 and braces 11, the particular arrangement of these parts as shown in the drawings being susceptible of variation as circumstances may demand. A long ladder requires a different system of bracing than a short one, and hence the connecting and bracing means may be largely varied. Secured to the crown 7 at a mid point thereof is a bolt 12 terminating at the end remote from the crown in a ball 13, and between the'ball and the crown the bolt is shown as provided with a lock nut 14 which may be suitably shaped for a purpose to be described. Fast'to the under face of the step is a block 15in which there is formed a socket 16 covered by a face plate 17 with a perforationlB for the passage of the stem Such ball and socket or universal joint permits movements of the prop 5 toward and from the body portion 1 of the ladder,

and the turning of the prop in either direct on about i s longitudinal axis.

The rod 9 of the prop 5 1s formed intermediately into an eye 19 in which is lmked an eye 20 on one end of a spacing brace rod 21 ha ing its other end formed into an eye 22 embracing a rod 23 extending between two adjacent steps 3 and made fast at the ends in said steps. In the normal operative position of the ladder the rod 23 is substantially upright. The eye 22 is capable of sliding freely along the rod 23 and is so related thereto both as to size and position that when the prop 5 is moved against the rear of the body 1 of the ladder, as is customary in the folded condition of the ladder, the eye 22 is near the upper end of the rod 23 and when the prop is moved away from the body member the eye 22 slides down the rod 23 until close to the lower one of the two steps between which the rod 23 extends, at which point the spacing rod 21 determines the position of the prop 5 away from the body member 1, such position being shown in 'Fig. 3, while the folded. position is shown in Fig. 4. The universal joint connection permits the prop to be turned completely around in its longitudinal axis, but the spacing rod 21 contacts with either side of the prop and prevents the latter being turned more than half way in either direction.

There is also provided a locking yoke 24 having the yoke portion provided with an elongated series of notches 25. Such look ing yoke has its leg portions terminating in out turned extensions 26 oppositely directed and seated in the upper end of the side rails 2 of the body of the ladder, so that the yoke may swing on the extensions 26 as pivots. Extending from the bar 8 about midway of its length is a pin 27 and extending laterally from the side rails 6 of the prop 5 in line with the bar 8 are other pins. 28, said pins 27 and 28 being so located as to enter different ones of the notches 25, the locking yoke 24 being located to the rear of the prop 5.

lVhen the prop 5 is swung away from the body member 1 to the extent permitted by the spacing brace 21 and the prop is located directly back of the body member 1 with the side rails 6 equi-distant from said body member 1 at like points, the pin 27 will lodge in the central one of the series :of notches 25 with the yoke portion 2 1, which is of greater lateral extent than the width of the prop at the point corresponding with the "yoke portion ofthe 'locking'yoke 2 1, said yoke portion being in engagement with the rear iface'of the prop. The pin 27 prevents the prop from swinging laterally and the yoke portion of the locking yoke prevents the prop from turning about its longitudmal' ladder is firmly supported in operative pos1- tion in much the same manner as an ordinary step ladder, although but a single central spacing rod 21 isemployed.

Suppose, however, that the surface upon which the ladder is placed is an uneven surface such as the surface 29 in Fig. 1. Under such circumstances the prop is tilted about the universal joint connection with the body of the ladder and is turned upon its longitudinal axis so that the rails or legs 6 of the prop are no longer equidistant from the body 1 at any point, but one-rail 6 is closer to and the other rail 6 is more distant from the body member than before. This will cause the tilting ofthe prop so that the lower end of one rail is higher than the lower end of the other rail and the prop therefore will rest firmly upon uneven surfaces. This turning and tiltingof the prop is sufficient to bring one of the pins 28 into position to engage in a notch 25 thus locking the prop in the new and twisted position. Under some circumstances the ladder may be made to accommodate itself to uneven surfaces 'by simply rockingthe prop to one side or the other :of a central position, and engaging the pin27 in the appropriate notch 25, but under other circumstances the prop must not only be rocked, but must also be twisted, or it may be twisted without sidewise rocking.

The arrangement is such that the prop .is capable rof adjustments in .a great variety of ways and to a great variety of supporting surfaces, whereby the ladder is firmly supported without liability of upsetting and vwithout in any manner sacrificing its stability. It is even possible to twist the prop to accommodate the ladder to unusual con ditions even where the surface is level, as in corners and the like, where access for an ordinary step ladder is out of the question.

In order *to extend the usefulness of the ladder there is provideda shelf 30 which may be conveniently made of suitably formed sheet metal, but may be made in part of metal and in part of wood, as is sometimesdone. The shelfhas side arms 31 extending from one edge, and each of these arms is provided with a longitudinal slot 32 traversed by a headed pin 33 entering the corresponding leg or rail 2 of the-body of the ladder. In the path of each arm 32 is a stop pin 3% so related to the corresponding pivotpin 33 that when the shelf 30 is moved into engagement with the rear side of the body of the ladder the free end of each slotted arm 81 is in underriding relation to the pin 34, thus in conjunction with the pin 33 holding the shelf in the extended position. When, however, the shelf is moved away from the body member to the extent permitted by the length of the slots 32 the arms are free from the pins 34 and the shelf may be turned about the pins 33 to a depending position.

As shown in .Fig. l, when the shelf is folded down it comes on the outside of the prop. Being independent of the prop, the shelf may be left extended from the top of the body of the ladder, when itis not convenient to use the prop, as where there is not room enough to permit the prop to be em ployed.

1V hat is claimed is 1. A step ladder provided with a rear prop having a universally movable connection at one end to the'body of the step ladder, a laterally yieldable spacing connection between the prop and the body of the ladder, and coacting means on the body of the ladder and on the prop for locking the prop in different positions of adjustment with respect to the body member about the longitudinal axis of the prop.

' A step ladder comprising a body member, a prop connected at one end to the corresponding end of the body member for swinging movements in various directions with respect thereto, said ladder having means for locking the prop in different positions with relation to the body member about the longitudinal axis of the prop.

3. A stepladder comprising a body member, a prop, a universally movableconnection between the upper end of the prop and the body member, whereby the prop may be turned on its longitudinal axis and caused to assume various positions with relation to the body member, means for limiting the turning movement of the prop to a half turn in either direction, and separate means for locking the prop at either limit of the half turn or at the quarter turn of the prop.

4. A stepladder comprising a body member, a prop expanding in width from the upper to the lower end, means for connecting the prop to the body member so that it may turn on a longitudinal axis a half turn in either direction with relation to the body member, a locking device carried by the body member and pins on the prop at spaced points thereon to be engaged by the said locking device, whereby the prop may be locked at either the quarter or a half turn on its axis. 7

5. A step ladder comprising a body member, and a prop connected at one end to the corrosymnding end of the body member for swinging movements in varlous directions with respect thereto, said ladder having means for locking the prop in different positions with relation to the body member about the longitudinal axis of the prop, and said prop expanding in width from the end connected to the body member toward the other end.

6. A step ladder comprising a body member, a prop connected at one end to the corresponding end of the body member for swinging movements in various directions with respect thereto, said ladder having means for locking the prop in different positions with relation to the body member about the longitudinal axis of the prop, and a spacing connection between the prop and the body member at apoint in spaced relation to the first-named connection between the prop and body member for limiting movements of the prop away from the body member.

7. A step ladder comprising a body member, a prop connected at one end to the cor responding end of the body member for swinging movements in various directions with respect thereto, said ladder having means for locking the prop in diiferent positions with relation to the body member about the longitudinal axis of the prop, and a spacing connection between the prop and the body member at a point in spaced relation to the first-named connection between the prop and body member for limiting movements of the prop away from the body member, said spacing connection being located intermediate of the width of and connected at the ends to both the body member and prop for participation in the movements of the prop laterally of the length of the body member about the connection of the prop at one end to the body member.

8. A step ladder comprising a body member provided with steps, a prop, a universal connection between one end of the prop and the corresponding end of the body member, a spacing connection between an intermediate point of the prop and the corresponding part of the body member, and a yoke member carried by the body member adjacent to the end of the prop connected to the body member, and said yoke member and prop having coacting portions for locking the prop in different positions of adjustment with respect to the body member.

9. A step ladder comprising a body men1- ber with steps, a prop expanding in width from one end toward the other and at the narrow end having a universal connection with the corresponding end of the body member, a spacing connection between the prop and body member at an intermediate point of the length of each and intermediate of the width of each, and coacting means on the body member and prop for locking the latter in different positions of adjustment with respect to the body member about the longitudinal axis of the prop.

10. A step ladder comprising a body memher and a prop vertically swiveled together at one end and a spacing member between the body member and prop intermediate of the ends of each, said spacing member having, a swiveled connection with the prop midway of the width of the latter and a laterally hinged, elongated, sliding connection with the body member intermediate of the width of the latter.

11. A step ladder comprising a body member and a prop hinged together at one end and a spacing member between the body member and prop intermediate of the ends of each, said spacing member having a hinge connection with the prop midway of the width of the latter and a sliding hinge connection with the body member intermediate of the width of the latter, said sliding hinge connection comprising a rod extending lengthwise of the body member between two adjacent steps and the spacing member having an eye surrounding the rod and slidable lengthwise thereon.

12. A step ladder comprising a body member and a prop hinged together at one end and a spacing member between the body member and prop intermediate of the ends of each, said spacing member having a hinge connection with the prop midway of the width of the latter, and a sliding hinge connection with the body member intermediate of the width of the latter, said sliding hinge connection comprising a rod extending lengthwise of the body member between two adjacent steps and the spacing member hav- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for 'fivecents each, .by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

upper one of the two steps when the ladder is folded.

18. A stepladder comprising a body member with steps, a prop expanding from one end toward the other, a universal joint connection between the prop and the body member, a locking yoke pivoted to the body member, said locking yoke having notches and the prop being provided with projecting pins adapted to engage in the notches, said pins being located both at the center and at the sides of the prop.

14. A stepladder comprising a body member with steps and a hinged prop, a shelf at the upper end of the body member above the prop and independent thereof, and means for slidably connecting the shelf to the sides of the body member, said shelf in its normal position being arranged below the top step of the body member and with its inner edge against said step, the slidable connection permitting the shelf to be swung down outside the prop when the ladder is folded.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDlVAR-D EVERETT WHITE.

lVitnesses i A. J. JOHNSON, H. B. WHITE.

Washington, 11.0. 

